I was saying before that I want to build and host a free online listing of vintage plans in PDF format. Then I agreed with Bob and said I should stop waffling on about it, roll up my sleeves and get on and build it. If it doesnt work, if it's not popular and doesn't take off, that's not a disaster. At least I will have had a go at it.

Well, I have been tinkering away and project Outerzone is live now. If you are interested and want to take a look, the address is www.outerzone.co.uk - this is very much a beta test. By which I mean the site is only half-built. I am keen to hear any feedback from users, though.

At this stage there is much to tidy up and to organise, there will be many bugs. but I'm hoping this is the beginning of something that is good.

Am interested to hear any thoughts. This will stand or fall on whether or not it does what people want it to do. Feedback will help a lot.

Here's the article and a full size pdf plan I worked up for Needlenose, a 20" span, Fox .59 powered circle burner designed by Wiz Pease and Cyril Shaw originally appearing in Model Aviation and (re)published in the December 1950 issue of Flying Models.

Does anybody have any plans of C E Bowden's work ? His early model aviation planes have nifty look to them, especially with there enlarged tails. You don't see much of them, any info or plans would be appreciated.

Col Bowden wrote lots of articles, his main interest seemed to be in petrol engines and later deisel. He had very few plans published in the Aeromodelling magazines. I have none of the original relevant magazines to see if the plans were complete and worth scanning.
So here is what I do have

Drone plan - 7ft span basically a picture of a replica that has been built but does give detailed 3 view with all dimensions so it would be possible to buildContest Plan 60" span - This will have been scanned fron the 50year flasback articles in the 1990`s from a tiny picture so quality not tip topBowden Mouse - Article on reconstruction of the Bowden Mouse. Plan was 1/2 page so good copy.

Thanks! This is more than I had to work with. I had some poor resolution plans that where small and you couldn't enlarge them to see any detail.The Mouse was the first that took my eye, I guess I'm taken by the unusual.I have. a poor copy of the Hummingbird,Midget and one called Porlock Puffin. The last looks like one of his designs , but I'm not sure, again thank very much Aero.

Am interested to hear any thoughts. This will stand or fall on whether or not it does what people want it to do. Feedback will help a lot.

Hi Steve,

Looks to me like you're off to a proper start with your plans site. The databased approach is most definitely the way to go about it. I think your beta classification scheme could use finer breakouts as to model type, so if a user wants to search for say Wakefields or Moffetts only, the database supports it. But you're already aware of the need for that, and it's something you can do on the fly as you're adding plans.

I'm currently using a 3-tiered scheme for classifying and organizing plans, so it's something like free-flight.rubber.wakefield or ukie.racing.rat or radio.glider.two-meter. Not everything fits the 3-tiered scheme so neatly, but it certainly beats the big unclassified pile that I started with...

Non-topical banners and advertisements are just plain annoying, so using 3rd party sites to host the plan files is a less than optimal approach. I understand your reasons for parking them elsewhere, but all else equal I think a plans site that directly hosts the plans files is going to have the edge in appeal.

Congrats on taking the plunge and good work so far. www.outerzone.co.uk is now linked in on the links page at scaleviews.com as a plans source...